Looking to find a new home for your practice? Many health practitioners are making the shift to rental rooms because of the affordability, great locations available, and convenience.
There’s a huge range of health co-working spaces available around the place. Knowing which space is right for your business can be challenging. If you’re feeling overwhelmed on how to find the right space for your practice - we can help! 1. Google Chances are you’ve likely already done this one and may have become overwhelmed by the number of results you got back. Narrow down your search by ensuring you add your location and one of your primary reasons for looking for a room for rent. For example: ‘Affordable medical rooms for rent in Sydney’ will be more specific than ‘medical rooms for rent’. You’ll still probably get a lot of results, and sifting through them can be tiring. If you find this the case, check out our other tips. 2. Use your network Do you know any health professionals who’ve used a full-time room for rent? Ask them about their experience. You may find they’re able to recommend somewhere for you to check out, or give you an idea of red flags to watch out for. The advice of others in our health practitioners’ network is valuable. Don’t be afraid to ask around, you may be surprised at how quickly you find your dream space. 3. Look close to home By narrowing your search to rentals that are close to home you’ll likely be more satisfied with your rental in the longer term. This is particularly important if you’re looking for a full-time medical room to let. Keep your eye out in the town and city around you. Chances are there will be physical advertising for the space you’re looking for. 4. The classifieds Yes, it’s a traditional method, but one not to be overlooked. Classifieds (either online or in print) can be a great way to find yourself an affordable full-time rental. Check in publications specific to the health industry for the most relevant advertisements. 5. Social Media This tip is partly connected to our previous one, as you can connect and ask those in your network via Social Media where they’re working from. Social media is also where many modern health rental rooms are advertised. Choose your social media intentionally, as some may be far more effective than others. Those targeted at professionals such as LinkedIn would be our first port of call. Why? Because good businesses with rooms to rent know that LinkedIn is where many healthcare providers are. By searching for rooms to rent on media platforms you automatically increase the chances that those renting the room to you have a good understanding of marketing. This can be vital for a full-time room hire as many rental agreements include a level of advertising. If a business renting a room is able to market themselves well, they’ll likely be able to help you do the same. Are you a health practitioner looking for a full-time room to rent? Wellshare has a wide range of rooms available to lease for health practitioners. Speak to our friendly team today and book a tour.
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There are a number of reasons you may be considering working for yourself. Tired of the 9-5 grind? Or has your practice has grown enough that you’re considering striking out on your own? Regardless of the reason, we know that making the leap between being an employee, and being your own boss is equal parts exciting and scary.
In today’s post, we’ll be sharing a few of our top tips to help you make the shift. Take an honest look at your finances It may be tempting to pull the pin on your current job, but we’d suggest taking a moment to consider your financial situation before you do. If you’ve decided to work for yourself, it’s a good idea to have a financial ‘cushion’ to land on. When you leave your job, much of the financial security and assured income is now gone. By having some money saved up, you’ll be able to provide for your living expenses and new business expenses until you get up and running. Have a financial plan for your own business, including how you’ll cover business expenses and taxes. How will you cover your wage if you become sick? These are things someone else will have done for you previously, but now you’re on your own it’s up to you. Reduce your stress, by having a plan. This step can be one of the hardest, as you may find you are not financially ready at this moment to make the leap to self-employment. That’s okay. You can make a plan, and take steps towards your goal. Alternatively, you may find that your finances mean that you are ready. In that case, what are you waiting for? Get the word out You’re excited, you’ve opened the doors to your new practice. But how will your clients know? Give yourself and your new business the best chance at success and get the word out that you’ve launched. Utilise what you have at hand to market your new business. Consider social media strategies, traditional marketing, and networking. Maintain these connections to grow your client base. Building a positive community around your practice is one of the best ways to grow your business. Network with others in your industry and maintain good client relationships. Referrals and positive reputation can do wonders for a business just starting out. Depending on your budget, your strategy for marketing will vary. Consider what will be the best strategy for your service by taking a look at your competition. What are they doing that seems to be working well? Set a work schedule When you’re just starting out on your own, the amount of work to be done can feel overwhelming. Protect your mental health and set up healthy habits that will help your business to be sustainable. When you work for someone else, your hours are determined for you. The freedom of setting your own hours is one of the most popular reasons people go into business for themselves. However, don’t allow yourself to become consumed by your business. Set work hours for yourself to ensure productive time, as well as maintain a good life/work balance. Setting specific ‘work hours’ also allows you to more easily track how your time and finances are being impacted by your habits. Your ‘work hours’ can be flexible, some people find it helpful to dedicate a set number of hours a week and fit them in when it suits. Others prefer to have dedicated ‘workdays’. Find the balance that works best for you and your practice. Have the space to grow your practice Where will your business be located? What space do you need to see success? Working for yourself you’ll likely not have access to the spaces you did when you were employed by someone else. Research what spaces are available that would suit your business. Do you need office space? A therapy room? Consider what you’ll need in your space, and begin researching with these factors in mind. There is a wide range of spaces available to rent. You may like to consider a short-term lease, or even renting rooms by the day or hour as you determine what space best meets you and your clients’ needs. Wellshare has a wide range of health rooms available for rent with both day and hourly packages available. If you’re a health or wellness professional looking to launch your own practice, you’ve come to the right place. Ultimately, your space needs to be sized correctly for the practice you’ll be conducting in it. Other factors such as accessibility, location, and amenities are also important. It takes time Growing your business takes time. Don’t expect to see overwhelming success in your first few weeks or even months of business. You’ll be doing a lot of learning (and possibly making mistakes along the way) as you navigate your new business. Be patient with yourself and continue to take steps to grow your business. Persevere and experience the rewards that will come from your hard work. Find your support system Making the transition from traditional employment to self-employment can be very stressful. Connect with those around you who can offer personal, and professional support. Not sure where to begin? Attend both in person or online networking events with other entrepreneurs in your industry. Sharing experiences and advice can be motivating and encouraging. Starting to work for yourself doesn’t have to be isolating. If you’re used to working in a team or in close contact with other professionals, consider joining a co-working space. Working alongside other motivated practitioners can provide support when you need it most. At Wellshare we pride ourselves on providing more than just medical rooms for rent (though we do that too!). We provide opportunities for those using our space to engage with a broader community. To have a voice and become inspired in their industry to achieve greater success. Convinced to take the leap? Let Wellshare help. A company and a practice are the same thing, right? But there are more differences between a company and a practice than just using different words.
Practice vs. company A practice relies on a client, exchanging money in return for a service from a practitioner. It’s an ongoing exchange dependant on the practitioners and the level of quality of their service. This is often how businesses in the medical profession are defined. Other professions that are dependent on individual skill levels, such as coaches and writers could also fall under this category. A ‘company’ on the other hand, is not dependent necessarily on the sale of a particular skill set of a practitioner, or group of practitioners. It is focused instead, often on the sale of a product. It doesn’t rely on individuals, but on the established practices and systems within the company for success. In essence, a successful company can continue to operate and provide a profit regardless of the individual at the helm (depending on how well they follow the established protocols of the business of course). Building a practice Because of the individualized focus of practice, your success is determined by the growth and investment on an individual level. What your practice needs to grow will differ, even from those within your industry. Investment in people and their skills are vital to building a successful practice. Consider personal development opportunities in light of the future benefits they will reap for your business. Your reputation as a health and wellness practitioner is a valuable asset to your business. A practice is something you as an individual are able to take with you, and it’s often the factor that makes many businesses truly successful. It’s that intangible quality that you personally, and professionally offer users of your service. It’s extremely difficult to put a price on the value of this. Building a company A successful company is able to use generally established practices of business to make savvy economical decisions. Marketing and other financial components to your business are able to be easily learned from other successful businesses in your industry. A company establishes protocols that ensure the smooth running of the business, to the economic benefit of all. Many of these principles will be useful for you to consider, but may not always apply. Do I have a practice or a company? If you’re starting your own business, or you’ve been operating for a while, it can be useful to gain an understanding of how you’re operating. Practices and companies have different strategies for success. Knowing what category your business falls under will help you apply the best strategies for success. Discover how your business is operating. Is it a practice or a company? Consider if you’re applying the correct success strategies for your business. Adjust accordingly. Start-up costs Aside from equipment needed for medical services, practices generally have lower start-up fees than a company. A company requires a larger team, and a bigger financial investment in product, marketing, and facilities. Do you have a product you’re selling? Is your team large or small? If you’re a small team, relying on what you provide as a service, chances are you’ve got practice. Could it be easily sold? The financial viability of companies is often able to be easily detected, as it is not reliant on individual people and their skillset for success. By contrast, practice is often harder to get an accurate valuation of because its worth is tied up with the individuals in the business. You can identify unique skills or ‘expert’ status in people in your business? This is what primarily brings value to your business. you’ve got practice. If your business is independently successful, regardless of the skillset of those involved, it sounds like a company. Knowing if your business is a practice or a company will help you navigate the plethora of advice out there for businesses. Practices place greater emphasis, by necessity on the individuals within them, to ensure financial viability. Once upon a time, there were doctors and patients. The dynamic was straightforward and expectations around services were clear and manageable for GPs to manage. Today, technological advances and cultural practices have meant that patient behaviour has changed. Does healthcare have patients or consumers?
The answer, as is often the case, isn’t straightforward. Healthcare and patients Traditionally, people would attend an appointment with their healthcare provider, receive a diagnosis and treatment. This would generally be accepted and compliance with ‘doctor’s orders’ was highly regarded. This is the typical ‘patient’ behaviour. Treatment is viewed by the receiver as authoritative and their expectations are that the healthcare professional they’re seeing knows best. People viewed control of their health as being predominantly in the hands of their health practitioner. Today there’s been a shift from this traditional dynamic Healthcare and consumers Today, people often desire greater control over their health, and their experience when receiving care from professionals in the health industry. Behaviour is shifting from that of the more passive ‘patient’ to that of the active ‘healthcare consumer’. What does this mean? Thanks to the internet, many patients are more educated, or at least more aware of alternative healthcare options available to them. This means competition is fierce for providing care to people. If individuals aren’t satisfied with the level of care they’re receiving, it’s simply a matter of Googling what other doctors are available in their area. This ease of access has, in many cases, led to a shift in expectations of people in the overall experience of their healthcare. Long wait times, lack of available price lists, difficulty in obtaining appointment times can all contribute to people switching healthcare providers. Patients no longer just want healthcare, they want convenience when receiving it. While patients primary concern is still their healthcare, they have adopted many consumer attitudes from elsewhere in contemporary culture. Millennial clients in particular desire to have healthcare provision quicker. This could be due to the impact of the ‘now’ attitude of many people. Instantaneous access to many services is now possible thanks to the smartphone, in clients minds - why is healthcare any different? What does this mean for health and wellness professionals? Health and wellness professionals need to ensure that they are providing both quality services and a quality overall experience for patients. Maintaining a patient list is no longer a matter of just ensuring the health of patients is well managed (though of course, that is vital!). Professionals in addition to providing excellent healthcare need to be open to discussing more healthcare options with patients and providing a convenient experience as possible. This may mean considering areas where your service could be improved. Patients value convenience and transparency as they receive care. Although they are still a patient, they have adopted consumer attitudes as a result of technological and cultural changes. If practitioners want to stand out from the competition, it’s important to respond to the expectations of their clients. Helpful questions to ask include:
Learning more about client behaviours and attitudes toward healthcare will help you to grow your business. By educating yourself you’ll be best equipped to respond proactively to the needs of your patients and their consumer attitudes. This will also give you an edge over the competition! Want to read more on this topic? Here’s a few more articles on this topic you might like to to read: https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/life-sciences-health-care/us-lshc-cx-survey-pov-provider-paper.pdf https://home.kpmg/au/en/home/insights/2018/01/healthcare-and-the-new-consumer.html The receptionist has been a long-established fixture of most health and wellness practices. A bridge between practitioner and client, someone to handle much of the business and administrative tasks of running a practice.
But is this necessary in 2023? Has technological advances meant that the receptionist is now outdated? An expense that can be cut? There’s a few points to consider when thinking about whether employing a receptionist is worth your money. Time. Receptionists can be an asset to any practice if they save practitioners time. Inquiries, phone calls, organisational tasks such as handling bookings, and other duties can take up a lot of your time. Time is money after all. If you have an established health practice where you can charge what you’re worth to clients, it’s a better use of your time to see more clients than handle administrative tasks yourself. Not convinced? Contrast the hourly rate you receive when you see a client vs the hourly rate you would pay the receptionist. Most times, it’s far better value for the receptionist to do this work. Technology. One of the biggest reasons health and wellness practitioners are considering no longer hiring receptionists is because of advances in technology. With online booking and payment systems now available, many of the tasks that receptionists previously would have done can now be outsourced. The fee of setting up these systems can be very minimal compared to the staffing fee and save you a lot in the long run. Some clients prefer speaking to a person on the phone, and in this case, a receptionist can be helpful in a busy practice where you aren’t available to answer the phone. Perception. The inclusion of a receptionist in your practice has an impact your clients perception of your practice. Whilst not necessarily for positive or negative, it’s something to be aware of. Many clients expect receptionists when they enter your practice. This mindset is simply due to the fact that for so long, it’s been assumed. Some clients may not be bothered, or even prefer dealing directly with you for administrative tasks. Performing your own administrative duties can show clients that you have a personal interest in overseeing all aspects of their care. On the other hand, some more traditionally-minded clients may see this as unprofessional and a statement on your practice. The receptionist has value in welcoming clients to your practice, often in your absence. The receptionist often assures people that you are aware of their arrival, which is reassuring to clients. If you don’t employ a receptionist consider how you will ensure clients who arrive early (or late) will be made to feel welcome. Ultimately, you cannot control how all people perceive your practice. So long as you have a plan in place to fulfill the welcoming function of a receptionist, it’s up to your own personal preference. Cost. Do you have the budget to employ a receptionist? Whilst they can be a valuable asset they also cost money. Experienced medical receptionists on average earn a salary of $50,000 - $100,000 a year. If your practice is unable to sustain a receptionist, or you’d like to invest that money elsewhere it may be worthwhile considering an alternative. Our final thoughts If your practice is still growing and you haven’t got the capital or client business yet, be reassured that thanks to technology your practice can still function effectively without a receptionist. Increase your customer satisfaction and present your business as modern and relevant with a mobile optimised website.
Mobile phones are amazing, and they’re often the tool clients first use to engage with your business online. Some people use mobile devices in the place of a computer entirely. As a device the mobile is far less powerful than a computer. This means if a client is trying to load your website onto their mobile, unless it is optimised for mobile viewing, they will be faced with slow loading times. Issues with functionality and design can mean that a site that looks beautiful on a computer screen, is barely usable on a mobile. This can be very frustrating for people. With the advent of social media and beautiful digital platforms, the expectation of your site is high. If your site isn’t optimised, the client’s you’re trying to reach may simply give up on waiting for your website to load and click over to your competitor. Don’t despair. Just ensure your website is optimised for mobile. By doing so, you’ll show that your business is up to date with the online habits of your clients. Wondering how to optimize your website for mobile? https://www.dreamhost.com/blog/how-to-optimize-your-site-for-mobile/ Want to read more on this topic? https://www.business2community.com/mobile-apps/absolutely-must-mobile-optimized-website-01871488 Beauty seems to be everywhere. From Instagram ads to the flyer advertising the beauty therapist next door - the beauty industry has traction. It’s not going anywhere, and it might even be taking over the health world. Is this something we should be worried about? Or can the health industry learn some important lessons from this industry?
Who is the expert? The lines between health and beauty are blurring. In part, this is due to the shift in consumer behaviour and perception of health professionals. Many consumers will now approach the beauty industry first to resolve a problem they may be having. Whether it’s acne or weight management, the beauty industry is appealed to and they often provide answers. In many beauty magazines and other publications, it’s not uncommon to see an article produced with the health of a medical professional. Maybe it’s ‘A Dermatologist’s 10 Secrets to Glowing Skin’, or ‘A Plastic Surgeon’s Insight into What ‘Nip and Tuck’ Really Means’, you know the articles we mean. Beauty plays a role in consulting and educating consumers on some health issues. Whether this is due to the consumer demand, or the beauty industries gradual growth into this space, it’s hard to tell. But regardless of the answer, they have a role to play in the health space. Rather than being intimidated, health and medical practitioners have the opportunity to partner with beauty to benefit both the consumer and their own business. Here’s how:
Pivoting to online The beauty industry has shown time and time again it’s adaptability when it comes to reaching its consumers. Online shopping is no different. While traditionally, beauty products have been sold in brick and mortar stores - this is changing. Many beauty companies are cutting out the retail space and using online marketing to offer direct-to-consumer access. Why? Because it’s working. Consumers are more willing than ever to purchase beauty products online. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a surge in demand for online beauty products, and beauty subscription boxes. Companies that already have an online presence have been best positioned to benefit from this trend in spending. Online shopping in preference to physical stores, allows the beauty industry to save money. How? Reduction in fees for retail space rent, distribution and the ability to target marketing efforts. Facebook and Instagram ads show the product to the consumers who will be most interested in the product or service. This is revolutionary for the industry as it typically leads to a greater buy into the product and a greater understanding of consumers. Speaking of understanding clients. Shifting to online has meant that the beauty industry is able to interact directly with customers. Social media means interaction and the ability to gain exposure and insight into your ideal market. Everything from product information, tips and tricks on product use, quizzes and giveaways has allowed this industry to harness this platform for their own benefit. Typically, social media and other digital technologies have been underutilised by the health world. There’s a lot of benefits to be gained from adopting online platforms. The beauty industry has dominated when it comes to this. Health practitioners need to consider the lessons that can be learned from the beauty industries use of online media.
Another strategy is to offer entertainment. People enjoy watching unboxing videos for a reason. They want to be entertained through the content they consume. To feel good when they interact with a brand. What online value can you offer to your clients? Aim to educate, and entertain.
Because they know who they’re trying to reach, they can develop advertising and new products or services that are most suitable for their clients. An added benefit? Less wasted money on marketing that doesn’t seem to bring any results. Who are your clients? What do they want, and how can you best reach them, based on the information you have? If you don’t have enough information, use your online platforms to investigate - running polls has never been easier! Will beauty dominate the health world? Beauty is one of the most successful industries. In a sense, it already dominates. The health world has an opportunity to assess and learn from this success or miss out. Want to read more on this topic? https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardkestenbaum/2019/09/04/the-future-of-retail-in-the-beauty-industry-will-be-very-different/#6fe24c6b6c4f Starting your own practice can be scary. You’re out on your own, relying on your personal skills and business know-how for success. Your response determines your experience. As much as we all might wish it, there’s no way of knowing what the future holds. If nothing else, the last two years has taught us that much. The unknown is big and sometimes scary looking. But it arrives nonetheless at some stage. How will you meet it? You can allow the fear of failure to stop you from succeeding, or you can rise to the occasion. No pressure. Here are some of our top tips to conquer your fear of the unknown and rise to the occasion. 1. Learn and equip yourself Yes, the future is unknown. That’s for sure. While we can’t possibly equip ourselves for all eventualities, we can be prepared for some of them. Researching your new venture will assist you in developing a plan for eventualities in your business that while new and unknown to you, others have already experienced. Learn from the mistakes (and successes) of those who have come before you. Equip yourself with the know-how to have a plan in place. Some things can be planned for to a certain degree. For example, you’re only human and will probably get sick at some point. What’s your plan for sick leave now you’re on your own? Do you have a savings plan in place? There’s some great advice available online from other professionals who’ve navigated the very waters you’re in now. 2. Lean on your community Staring into the unknown is a little less scary when there’s someone by your side. Connect yourself with a community, both professionally and personally who can provide you with the support you will need. Not sure where to find a community? Wellshare values providing opportunities for passionate health and wellness professionals to support and encourage one another as they grow their businesses. 3. Begin and succeed. Yes, the unknown is scary. But it’s also exciting. It doesn’t have to be failure that’s out there lurking in the gloom. Maybe it’s success. Until you begin your journey, you won’t get to experience the highlights that will come with your business. There will be lowlights too, but focus for now on the good that’s awaiting you. The possibilities are wide open at the moment, you just need to step up. You can do it. 1. Accountability and Monitoring:
The medical establishment ensures that beauty practices, and products are safe for consumers. Consumers need the medical establishment's involvement in the beauty industry. This ensures their safety. The medical profession and the beauty industry is well documented historically. From as early as the 18th century, doctors have been involved in discussions around healthy beauty. In 1818 Dr J B Mège published Alliance d'hygie et de la beauté. This book advised women on 'beauty secrets' and health practices. This was extremely well received and led to an increase in hygiene practices at the time. It helped set the boundaries of beauty practices, and educate consumers. Since that time, systems and establishments have been put in place to monitor the beauty industry. From ensuring safe products to banning some beauty practices, all is done with the safety of the patient in mind. Consumers may lack a level of adequate education around healthy beauty practices. Particularly if the medical establishment is absent from the discussion. 2. The role of the educator We've all seen articles in magazines where a healthcare practitioner is divulges beauty secrets. 'Can drinking Coffee help you lose weight? An expert reveals the answer'. THis is just one of the ways the medical industry and the beauty industry have become closely linked. The role of educator has become blurred. Consumers go to the beauty industry for answers on medical ailments. These have often caused perceived beauty imperfections. Thankfully, the beauty industry has invited medical professionals into their space. Rejecting the beauty industry isolates consumers and reduces access to healthcare information. 3. Beauty or medical procedure? Some medical procedures could also be considered beauty procedures. Medical treatments carried out by dermatologists for acne interacts with cultural beauty ideals. When the beauty industry has an interest in some types of medical practices. The lines become blurred between medical and beauty industry. The medical industry should not reject this interest, but rather engage. This way these ideas can be unpacked and discussed. It's important consumers feel comfortable discussing beauty practices with medical professionals. 4. Opportunity for business growth Consumers have, to a certain extent, conflated the medical and beauty industries. This means cooperation. But does this have to be a bad thing? No. There is opportunity for both beauty, and medical businesses to grow. How? Through the inclusion of broader services. Consumers value convenience. They'll often choose to use services where they're all in the one spot. Having a medical clinic or rooms close by to a beauty business increases your exposure. If you establish a good rapport with the beauty business you can encourage referrals. Beauty practitioners are trusted, and often the first witnesses to healthcare issues. Safer, healthier clients for both parties, and increased business. Sounds great! 5. Lack of Trust If a doctor rejects beauty practices, patients might not share a problem that occurred while receiving a beauty treatment. Learning new skills. Many doctors are now turning to the beauty industry and practising cosmetic medicine. Many doctors find practising cosmetic medicine rewarding. Less stress, more family time, increased income and grateful patients. 6. Losing money Cosmetic medicine is a lucrative industry. Many patients are willing to pay big bucks for the beauty outcome they're looking for. By rejecting the beauty industry, medical practitioners may lose the opportunity to enjoy this influx of cash. 7. Misunderstandings One reason the medical industry rejects the beauty industry is its focus on vanity. That is not always the case. Plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine can cause transformation in patient's lives. Improvements in mental health and strengthening of identity have value, independent of vanity. The perception of vanity in the industry is something professionals must overcome. Too often it is forgotten that these professionals help patients. Facial reconstruction after trauma, breast reconstruction following cancer and much more. An increased conversation between the beauty industry and the medical establishment is needed. It's dangerous to dismiss a whole industry on the basis of what is perceived externally. There are misunderstandings of the level of training and glamour involved in becoming a cosmetic or aesthetic doctor. 8. Consumer demand Consumers want to access beauty products. They trust beauty practitioners and want to use their services. If the medical establishment rejects beauty, it may miss out on understanding patients better. The other services a patient uses can impact their health. There may be contraindications between medications and beauty products or services, that a patient is unaware of. The demand of patients must be understood, and they need to be guided. With guidance, greater outcomes in both beauty and health can be achieved. The beauty industry and medical establishment are linked. This should not be ignored. The benefit can be gained from close discussion and collaboration. Want to read more on this topic? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1172293/ https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/us/30plastic.html https://www.realself.com/news/beauty-industry-standards https://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/a47142/things-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-became-a-plastic-surgeon/ Evidence Shows That Consumers Wish Alternative Health and Mainstream Medical Work Together12/1/2023 Studies have shown that consumers are using alternative health more often. It is often perceived that this is due to dissatisfaction with mainstream health avenues. This is not always the case. Data has shown that patients often access alternative health out of a belief that the treatment better aligns with their personal values, beliefs, philosophical attitudes towards health.
People often use alternative health alongside mainstream medical practices. Those who use alternative health alongside mainstream medical services are often managing chronic conditions. Alternative health can assist with symptom management, and afford consumers a sense of regained control over their health. Often, doctors are unaware that consumers are using alternative health. This use of both alternative and mainstream health shows a desire from consumers to have these health services work together for their benefit. People are willing to access both mainstream and alternative health, to achieve the best health and wellness outcomes. Practitioners need to take this into consideration when evaluating alternative or mainstream health. It’s important to be aware of other services that a patient may be accessing, and how these can interact and complement one another. It can be useful to initiate conversations with patients regarding their use of alternative and mainstream health. This enables practitioners to get a better picture of the overall health management strategies in place and offer greater support to the consumer. The Australian Government has put together a guide to assist clinicians in having these conversations with patients. By initiating these conversations, practitioners are able to better equip consumers for making decisions around alternative health treatments. Want to read more on this topic? Check out some of the studies we mentioned in today’s blog post. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/187543 https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/about/why-used |